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Bailey’s Upper Families,
We want to take a moment to share just how thankful we are for each and every one of you. Each day, you entrust us with your incredible children, who fill our school with joy, laughter, and boundless energy. Their bright spirits remind us daily of the privilege we have in shaping their educational journey.
We are also deeply grateful for our amazing teachers and staff, who work tirelessly to create meaningful learning experiences and classroom communities for your children. Their dedication and care are truly inspiring.
This past week’s Family Thanksgiving Luncheon was a wonderful reminder of the special connection between school and home. We absolutely loved seeing so many families join us for this cherished event, sharing a meal with their child and classmates. Be sure to check out the pictures on our Facebook Page - it was a joy-filled day we won’t soon forget!
Looking ahead, we encourage you to visit and share more moments like this with us. With no more assigned lunch days, you are warmly invited to come and eat lunch with your child at any time. These shared experiences help build powerful memories for our students and strengthen the bond between home and school.
During this season of giving, we wanted to let you know about two Amazon Wishlists that support our school community. If you are willing and able to contribute, every item purchased goes directly to benefit our students or classrooms.
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Wellness Team Wish List: Includes essentials such as clothing, hats, gloves, deodorant, and more to support our students' well-being.
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Principal Dowling Wish List: Features a variety of items to fulfill special requests and needs for both staff and students.
Your generosity, as always, is deeply appreciated and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for being such a caring and supportive part of our community!
Thank you for your continued partnership in our school community. Wishing you and your families a joyful and peaceful Thanksgiving filled with love, gratitude, and togetherness.
Bailey's Upper Administrative Team
🐯Holly Dowling
🧡Tricia Wayland
💙Christie Fuller
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November 24th- Girls on the Run Club- 5K Race
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November 26th- Move with Compassion
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November 27th-29th- Student Holiday- No School
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December 3rd- Family Workshop- Tools or communication (Attendance, Thursday Folders, Talking Points, ParentVue, etc.)
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December 6th- Make-up Picture day
- Please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher if you would like your child to retake their picture.
- If you bought any picture packs and you want your child to retake their photo, your child will need to bring the picture pack with them on December 6th and turn it into the photographer.
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Attendance Line: Phone: 703-503-2727 or email: baileysupperelem@fcps.edu
- Kiss and Ride Drop Off/Pick Up Schedule For Upper 8:25-8:35 a.m. and 3:25-3:35 p.m.
There are no upcoming county wide assessments planned for November.
If you have any questions regarding past, current, or upcoming assessments, please contact Nicole Cassidy or Mary Iannicola our School Testing Coordinators at 703-503-2700
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Sue Lackey or email salackey@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2024.
The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Sue Lackey at salackey@fcps.edu .
Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
Our school has been selected to participate in a pilot program for the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
A limited number of classes in grades 3-6 will be selected to participate. However, all students in participating grades, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email. We will administer the survey in selected classes during the school day between Monday, December 2, and Friday, December 13. Any student may take the survey at home, if preferred. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose.
We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.
As we transition into the fall and winter seasons, it's important to remind our students, staff, and families about the importance of practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. These simple practices can significantly reduce the spread of germs, particularly during the upcoming holiday season when gatherings and travel increase.
Key Reminders:
- Wash Hands Frequently: Encourage students to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Use Hand Sanitizer: When soap and water are not readily available, provide access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content.
- Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Remind students to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues properly in a wastebasket and wash their hands.
- Avoid Touching Face: Discourage students from touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Videos:
Hand Washing Prevents The Spread of the Flu
Your Health Is In Your Hands with the Help from a Shark
One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices.
The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.
In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.
Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact us.
Register for ParentVUELearn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily access your child’s results and other helpful information.
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
📍 Boundary Review Community Meetings
As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process.
With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
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